Chapter 3 Birthday

Knock knock! "May I come in, sir?"

Arjun came back to reality after hearing the knock on his door, "Yes, come in."

"Sir, you asked me to bring you these files before 15th June."

15 th June? Oh shit! How could he forget that it was her birthday the next day? He had never forgotten this date earlier, then how could this date have slipped from his mind? So she was asking the person to be with her tomorrow, not because she didn't not know anybody here but because she was feeling lonely... with this thought a smile also appeared on his face,eyes twinkling with mirth.

"So basically you have not changed completely...."

He murmured as he stood up and walked outside of his office, leaving his assistant completely in shock because it was the first time in three years that he had flashed such a huge smile in front of anybody.

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He stopped when he realized he was standing in front of Manya, who was asking him if he needed something with an irritated expression on her face.

Is she not recognizing me again? How can this happen, we just met today...!

"Ahm! Excuse me! Hello, mister- do you need something? May I help you, because you are standing in the entrance and blocking the entire passage. Please step aside."

He answered without thinking much, because somehow he knew that if Manya got angry it would be nearly impossible to even talk back to her, ever again in this lifetime-

"Ah! Actually we met today in the morning,remember my bike? You asked me to come here for the compensation?"

"Oh! Yeah, I recognize your voice. I am really sorry, I can't remember faces. So tell me how much does it cost?"

Can't remember faces? What does she mean ? He was looking at her in full shock,mouth agape.

She understood the situation and replied,"Actually I have been diagnosed with second stage of prosopagnosia, this is why I can't remember faces. But it's totally okay- there are few faces I want to remember anyway, and luckily I remember them well. So don't get stressed and tell me how much your bike costs?"

"An evening!"

"An evening? Pardon!"

"Actually tomorrow is my best friend's birthday and I don't have any friends in this city; I don't want to celebrate her birthday alone this year like I always have had to. So can you please keep me company-" as he was speaking, he noticed the change of colours on her face and he knew that the girl from his memories would kill him before he could finish the next sentence, he might be the youngest business tycoon in the city but that was none of her concern.

Before she could interrupt,.he smiled and resumed speaking. "I am sorry I'm really bad at jokes and pick up lines, but the part about tomorrow being my best friend's birthday is true. So can you please accompany me?"

"Hmm? It's totally okay, you don't have to say sorry-It was not your fault, I was just thinking of something. Did I scare you with my face? I apologize,I really can't help with my expressions! And I am sorry once again, I really can't come tomorrow because I don't believe in celebrating birthdays and I don't like attending parties related to birthdays,or you can put it this way- I don't really like to attend parties!"

'I don't believe in celebrating birthdays'?!

What does she mean? How can she not celebrate birthdays: is this the same girl who used to get excited one month before her birthday and awaited new surprises everyday...? What happened to her? How did she get such a change in her personality, and what did she mean that she had prosopagnosia? What happened to her photographic memory , which had been capable of remembering almost everything that ever came across her eyes...

Is this the right time to reveal that I am her childhood friend Juno, or should I wait till I figure out the entire situation?

He was in the middle of his thoughts while he felt a sudden push and saw a well-built man rushing towards Manya.

Wait what...? He was hugging her?! No wait! He kissed her on her forehead... What's going on!?

"Aww! How is my baby? Isn't she happy to see me?", while he was still processing everything that had happened, he heard these sentences from the man's mouth. 'I will kill you!'- the thoughts in his mind and Manya's voice had the same timing with the same exact words!

"How could you scare me by saying that you have missed your flight? I am really gonna kill you! Just keep this in mind! And where the hell were you- and why were you pulling these kinds of pranks on me? You know I got scared by the thought that you would not be with me tomorrow! I was really worried and scared at the same time thinking that I have to be all alone tomorrow," Manya was going on without pausing for a moment.

"Oho! Relax girl, take a deep breath. I know my bestfriend very well and even better than she knows herself - how could you believe that I would ditch you on the worst day of your life? Just take deep breaths, I am here with you now and you don't have to be scared anymore. Don't worry, we will go back to Milan- most probably by next month. And again, I am really sorry that I have made you the head designer for this project but you know that you are the best, and nothing but the best would do for me; no one can ever replace you. And now tell me, how is Sia?"

"She was thrilled to see me! Let me wrap up the work for today and we can go visit her."

'Best friend'- this word had pinched Arjun's heart so hard that he was still reeling from the pain...This was way worse than the thought of her having a boyfriend.

He didn't know why he was having this strange urge to snatch her hand from within the man's hand and hide her somewhere, where nobody could find her, hurt her...Wait, what did he mean by 'the worst day of her life'? Didn't he know it was her birthday the next day? What is going on?! And why do I find the face of this man familiar?

While Arjun had been zoned out, Ishaan had already noticed him. Walking towards him, he offered his hand, speaking,"Hello, Mr.Chauhan! I am Ishaan Arena, CEO of ARENA's fashion house. It's nice to finally meet you."

While he was introducing himself, Manya interrupted him. "Wait what! You are the CEO of ARMA's?! Then why did you hide the truth this morning and just now as well?"

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